Wichita eagle., 1887-10-19

| stood by the side of the lad, who turned
| upon her curious yet frightened stare
| while the blacksmith at his work piled his
! guest with questions, to which she replied
I very briefly. Her name was Goubet, she
said; she came from village some leagues
away, and was going Oh to the hills to join
her son. Meanwhile the gaze of the little
boy increased i'll intensity, for he found him
self the object of incomprehensible signs and
gestures which the stranger gave expression
to with her back turned to Maitre Joseph.
In the changing gloom and glow, as the bel
lows expanded and contracted, he was half
terrified, half fascinated by this strange
face that tried to make him-little Pierre,
who was Of no use but to pull the bellows
and be beaten--understand something-what
he could not tell. But he soon perceived it
was something friendly. By and by the
blacksmith went nearer the door, and under
cover of the hammer strokes the Mere
Goubet began to speak in low, hurried
whisper
See, then, little one; thou hast a cruel
master, thou art miserable. Save thyself,
then; come with me and we will 60 to seek
my little son, who is thy age exactly. Wilt
thou?"
Little Pierres eyes and mouth were wide
open; he had no other language
Quick, then, tell me, is there shed where
one could spend the night down the road to-
ward the hills, not close heresr
Pierre's eyes glittered with intelligence: he
nodded.
''See, then, my child, l will await thee ON
the road. Get away at an early hour and
run Wilt thoul"
Again Pierre nodded 1t was kind voice
that spoke to him. and it would be a fine
thing not to pull tho bellows nor be beaten
any more That was enough.
Good night, monsieur" said the Mere
Goubet, passing the blacksmith on her way
out; Il thank you for your goodness"
Maitre Joseph watched her TIL the gloom
swallowed her up.
My faith" said he, struggling his shoulders,
zone would say she was mad"
In the early dawn of the following morning
a wild little figure, shock headed and bara
footed, fed down the same straight white
road that led TO the hills Cleaving the chill
gray mist, his small legs Tying in the air, he
sped along till, q couple of kilometeIs ON. he
reached the outlying shed of an isolated farm
house. At the door Mere Goubet awaited
him, peering ont anxiously for his coming.
She caught him by the arm and drew him in.
sat down on milking stool, and looked at
him with eyes whose depths of usefulness
redeemed her broad face from commences.
Thou hast never had a mother she said
at last; zone sees it in thy face. Thou hast
never loved any one, is that not so.r
Little Pierre answered as usual by stare.
Mere Goubert reused herself Art thou
hungry, my childin
Pierre this time found voice. sYes.
madame"
Call me ma mere. wilt thoui l have some
brl ad for thee" She produced roll from
her bundle, and watched the lad as his sharp |
white teeth met in ii greedily.
"Allons, allons,r she said, by and by. tax |
ing his hand, and they set off. For hours |
they trudged along tine lonely road Only |
once they met living soul. The jingle Of /
little bells came through the mist, and a !
peasant woman appeared driving q small /
cart drawn by dogs. She had a can OF milk,
md Mere Goubet begged some for Pierre. |
The woman gave them both to drink will +
ngly, and looked back over her shoulder for
ong after she had passed them.
The sun was already low when the travellers
ntered the village. But Mere Goubes did
lot stop. Pierrs's experience had been one
( irregular meals seasoned with cuffs, but
e Was now growing more hungry than
eemed reasonable even to him He remena-
cred where the bread had come from tina.
an<nina